We all have dreams. Some are possible, and some are seemingly impossible. Nonetheless, despite often recognising the futility of it all, some of us pursue them no matter what. The pursuit often leads to small, gradual breakthroughs, and eventually the dream that was once considered unattainable becomes a very achievable reality. You only have to look at history to see the vast progress the human race has made. One of these is in space, with the ability to launch men and machines away from the clutches of the Earth's gravitational pull and into the depths of the universe. We are fascinated by space, and in turn by science fiction. So fascinated, in fact, that we are looking for ways to take over and inhabit it, in order to make the fantasies seen in science fiction a possible reality.

Planetes is set in the near future, 2074, with mankind's colonisation of space imminent. Cities are present on the moon and there are several orbital stations in space. Furthermore, there are recruitment drives for exploration missions further into space. However, human activity brings with it human waste, which can have dangerous repercussions in space. Therefore, someone needs to clear it up.

It is with this that the protagonists of this series are tasked. The manga follows the crew of a semi-dilapidated DS-12 sanitation/cargo ship, dubbed the 'Toy Box'. There's the heavy smoking, hard-hitting American pilot and captain, Fee Carmichael. Then there's the calm, stoic, kind and compassionate Russian crewmember, Yuri Mihairokov. Finally, there's the loud-mouthed, brash, and pessimistic Japanese guy, Hachirota 'Hachimaki' Hoshino, who is also the main protagonist.

The first chapter is centred around Yuri and Hachirota getting ready for a debris collection run. Though he has known Yuri for two years, Hachirota still feels uncomfortable at times around him due to his quiet and private nature. He still doesn't know much about Yuri, and would often see him staring into space, his mind utterly lost. While out for some routine debris collection, they are forced to go back due to an incoming debris storm. However, Yuri spots something in the distance. Once he realises what it could be, he dashes out to get it. Hachirota, realising Yuri's absence a little late, shouts for Yuri to come back, however Yuri can no longer hear him, entranced by the proposition of finally retrieving the one thing he was looking for. He stretches out to grab the item, which turns out to be a compass, but as soon as he does so he is hit by debris from the storm. He starts to fall, and Hachirota rushes to save him before Yuri burns up within the Earth's atmosphere.

The second chapter involves a trip to the Moon for treatment after Hachirota breaks his ankle. At the Space Physiology Research Hospital, he meets legendary veteran astronaut Harry Roland and a girl named Nono. Upon hearing Hachirota's thoughts about going back to Earth for rehabilitation, Harry scolds him for his lack of enthusiasm and pride in an astronaut's role and purpose. Roland loves space, but Hachimaki sees later on that that love is not always reciprocated. Hachimaki also struggles to comprehend Nono's existence, having lived all her life on the Moon, only able to gaze at Earth from afar in fascination at its oceans.

The third chapter revolves around Fee trying to have a cigarette on the moon. However every time she reaches a smoking room, it's blown up by an organisation known as the 'Space Defence Fighters' who claim to be environmental activists. Fee becomes increasingly edgy over time, needing her fix badly. Upon hearing about the organisation's plot to crash a satellite into a space station in order to destroy it and cause Kessler's syndrome, Fee's rage takes over. She takes it upon herself to take irrational, drastic action to stop the plot and exact revenge.

After the events of the terrorist plot, the crew members end up stuck on Earth awaiting orders. So Yuri joins Hachimaki in visiting his family in Japan, where he meets Hachimaki's mother and his younger brother, Kyutaro. Kyutaro is an amateur rocketeer, and resents his family's current legacy; he has a dream of becoming a great engineer rather than an astronaut like Hachimaki and his father.

The final chapter in this book starts with an accident that sends Hachimaki into a solar flare. Fearing the worst, the whole crew are shocked to find that Hachimaki was totally unharmed due to the fortunate protection of the moon. Feeling physically fine, Hachimaki gets ready to leave when the doctors inform him that there is one test remaining. He enters a room. The door closes. The lights are switched off. Hachimaki's confidence turns into pure fear within just 23 seconds. He is diagnosed with Deep Space Disorder, a mental illness that can cripple astronauts and destroy their careers in space. Just as he is reeling in despair with the realisation that his dreams are potentially over, Yuri and Fee show Hachimaki the most powerful engine created by man - the Tandem Miller Style D Helium 3 Nuclear Fusion Engine. Scheduled to be installed on the Lagrange 2, it will be part of the first ship capable of interplanetary travel. Hachimaki touches it, in awe. As the electricity flows through his body his mind refocuses, and his ambition returns in pursuit of a new dream.

Though at first glance a story about space rubbish collectors may not seem all too enticing a premise, let me assure you that Planetes is a unique and decent manga. It is perhaps the most realistic science fiction series I've come across for as long as I can remember. At first glance, it doesn't look much different from most science fiction series involving humans living in space with futuristic technology. However if you look more closely, you will see that Planetes is much more recognisable and conceivable than it seems. Makoto Yukimura uses real scientific research in all aspects of Planetes, from the designs of structures and clothing to the science supporting the story. At times the latter can be dense but it never feels too heavy or opaque. Furthermore, there is a plethora of themes prevalent in Planetes that make the manga a very strong human drama - they are political, sociological, and philosophical themes that apply very much in society on Earth today. This makes Planetes a fascinating manga, making fantasy so believable through its realistic portrayal of space and very human content.

Accompanying all of this is some equally wonderful artwork. The drawing in Planetes is of sublime quality; the best I've seen, in fact, with precise detail in all areas. The spaceships and structures - both their interiors and exteriors - as well as the characters and their equipment are all meticulously drawn.

Yukimura shows even more prowess in his directing of shots and use of shadow, with many pages of beautiful scenes immortalised in picture. He also shows impressive variety in art style, from pages of highly realistically drawn closeups, to very sketchy, frantic and explosive action scenes, to idyllic stillness - all with great consistency. Some pages are also drawn in greyscale, and I especially liked the moments where there were reflections.

Overall, Planetes is a unique, intellectual science fiction drama that no avid reader of manga should be without. Though some may be more familiar with the anime adaptation than this manga series, they are both unfortunately becoming difficult to find from British retailers. Therefore, I recommend you get these while you still can. You won't regret it.